Navy rescues stranded Indian fishing trawler

Sri Lanka Navy rescued the missing Indian fishing trawler with the six-member crew drifting as a result of a mechanical problem and anchored at a distance of five nautical miles west of Iranativu Island on September 23, 2015. Since the fishermen onboard were in an exhausted condition due to rough seas in the area and the defect was beyond repairs, the trawler along with the fishermen were safely brought to Thalai-Mannar by a Sri Lanka Navy vessel which had sighted the defective trawler.

Navy had alerted its ships and craft to render assistance at a request made by the Indian authorities to assist in finding the Indian trawler, which had gone missing since September 21.

On safe arrival ashore, the rescued Indian fishermen were provided with food, medicine and accommodation and the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka was informed for onward actions. Subsequently, they were taken onboard an SLN craft attached to the North Central Naval Command and handed over to the Indian Coast Guard vessel, C142, at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) south west of Kachchativu on September 24, 2015 along with their fishing trawler.